This section of the website is intended to be a resource for our coaches. Items available here will be coaching tips, concepts and general information to improve our coach staff.

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Thanks,

Andy, Steve & Tom

Coaches Tip - Plan Your Practice

OK, you have just volunteered to coach you son’s lacrosse team. Not a problem, I can do this. After all I was all-metro in high school and played all 4 years at a division I university, I can handle this. Be prepared to expect anything when coaching youth sports. All I can say is I won't go into any further detail than that...

Coaching tip #1: Always take the time to plan out your practice.

This could be anything from a printed document to a crumpled up piece of paper in your pocket, but come to practice with a specific set of goals/drills to work on.

For example, here's a simple practice plan for our 4-5 year old Pockets program. Lets assume practice begins at 6:00 and will end at 7:00. I've added some drill instruction to my practice plan as well as what's running through my noggin during practice; the drills are highlighted in blue.

Pockets Practice - March 17th, 6:00 - 7:00

6:00 - 6:10 Shooting Drills

Getting kids to practice on time can be a nightmare. Most of the time it's not the kids fault, but the parents.

Have your first drill of the night be a fun one, everyone loves to shoot.

If the child misses enough of the shooting drills on a regular basis they'll make their parents get them to practice on time.

I still us this concept at 11-12, and it works.

Form two lines outside the restraining line. Roll out a ball, have the boy scoop it up, yell "release" (more on that at a later date), then have them run to the goal and take a shot from 10 feet away.

You get a little scooping practice in, you get the boys used to talking, and they think they are just shooting.

6:10 - 6:20 Obstacle Course Relay

Set up some cones approximately 10 feet apart, totaling approximately 40 feet.

Depending upon the size of your team form 2-3 lines (equal number of cone lines).

Roll out the ball, have the boys scoop it up, then they have to cradle and weave between the cones, turn around at the last cone, weave back through, then pass the ball to the coach -- without dropping the ball.

The coach rolls the ball out for the next player and it starts all over again.

Encourage the boys to cheer their teammates along.

In time, you can teach the boys to face dodge cone 1, roll dodge cone 2, etc...

Then replace the cones with coaches.

6:20 - 6:25 Water/Drink Break

Give them a break.

6:25 - 6:35 Ground Balls

Since we are at a Pockets practice there is no checking, so watch out for finger boo-boos.

There are lots of drills to use here; I'll give you one example.

Have the boys play Butt Ball. You can run multiple stations with this drill, 3-4 per station.

Have 2 boys stand back-to-back. Have them flex their knees, bend from the waist and rest their stick across their knees. This should have their butts pressing against one another.

Place a ball directly underneath them.

On the first whistle blow, they use only their legs to "push" one another in an effort to gain a positive position on the ball.

On the second whistle blow, they scoop up the ball then pass it to the coach.

6:35 - 6:45 Field Positioning & Defensive Positioning

Start by running this drill 1v1, then 2v2, then 3v3 and finally 4v4.

The offensive player(s) have to keep then ball in the cones/restraining box.

The offensive player(s) try to dodge their defender and score, but don't let the defenders use their stick.

This teaches the defenders to use their feet to stay in position vs. relying on their stick.

As you add players (2v2, 3v3, etc..) make sure the offensive players stay separated and in their position (attack by the goal, middies by the restraining line). This helps eliminate the "crowd chasing the soccer ball", while teaching offensive spacing.

6:45 - 6:50 Water/Drink Break

Feel free to modify the time between water breaks. You could have them between every drill if you like.

The hotter the day, more frequent the breaks.

6:50 - 7:00 Scrimmage the other team.

Let them play & have some fun.

Remind them to focus (if they can) on what they learned today in practice, and apply those skills during the game.

Praise them out loud when they do a good job "Timmy, nice ground ball/pass/catch/shot..."

If you need to correct them, pull them aside, get down on one knee (brings you to their level) and explain what they did wrong and do the understand?

When practice is over, bring them in for a team cheer, and then cut them loose on the snacks.

Oh yea, assign a snack/schedule once you have your team roster and bring enough snacks for all the siblings.

Ok, practice is over and here's what you have accomplished:

The boys got in some shooting practice.

They learned to dodge through traffic.

They understand how to use their body to get an advantage on a ground ball.

They are learning to use their legs to play defense.

The are learning how to maintain a proper spacing on offense.

They have had the opportunity to apply those skills in a scrimmage.

Not bad for an hours work. But you will never accomplish that much in an hour if you don't plan out your practice ahead of time.

I hope this helps. If you have any comments please feel free to forward them to
.